Category Archives: Inspiration / Personal Development

How to respond from a place of clarity and strength, rather than continuing to react in anger and frustration? This is such an important question because the answer to this is something we all need to practice in our daily lives.

In almost every case, nothing is stopping you right now—nothing is holding you back but your own thoughts about yourself and “how life is.” Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, pause, and consciously decide if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the present moment.

You may not be responsible for everything that happened to you in the past, or everything that’s happening to you right now, but you need to be responsible for undoing the thinking patterns these circumstance create. It’s about thinking better so you can ultimately live better.

In order to gain conscious control of what’s really going on in your mind, you need to develop a keen awareness for this process. What helps is to hold still for a moment, take a ten deep breaths, focus exclusively on these breaths, and free your mind of the senseless chatter that’s going on inside your head. This makes room for a change of state, for something new to enter. Detached from the weight of stressful thoughts and reactions you grow capable of consciously redirecting your focus. It’s time to take it willingly away from something unchangeable that drags you down, and zero it in on something actionable that inspires you. Focus on the next logical, meaningful step. Remind yourself that there are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.

The key is to understand that no matter what happens, you can choose your response, which dictates pretty much everything that happens next. Truly, the greatest weapon you have against anxiety, negativity and stress is your ability to choose one present thought over another—to train your mind to make the best of what you’ve got in front of you, even when it’s far less than you expected.

Yes, you can change the way you think! And once you do, you can master a new way to be.

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Awareness is the foundation of transformation. With better daily awareness you can make better daily choices and with better daily choices you’ll experience better daily results in your lives. You can do this even if your fears born of insecurities tell you, you can’t. I know your greatness and genius to be true. These quick, actionable and valuable tactics will help you to move and break free of old patterns, stop being the victim and leap into high gear to get your giant goals accomplished.

Believe in yourself, your vision and gifts when no one else believes in your vision and gifts. Remember that until your vision becomes your obsession your mission will never grow into a movement. Self-confidence is the DNA of industry dominance. And global eminence.

Use the first 90 minutes of your workday only on value-creating activities versus checking email or surfing the net. Spend an hour a day without stimulation (no phone, no social, no people). Get to know, develop and love your self. Remember that life’s just too short to play small with your gifts. Commit to your best life today. Remember that to double your income, triple your investment in learning, coaching and self-education.

Take a nature walk every day. It’ll clear your mind, boost your fitness and feed your spirit. Human beings need to be in the wilderness regularly to stay at their best.

Write in a journal every morning. And record gratitude every night. Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.

Release the energy vampires and dream destroyers from your life. They are sucking away your genius. Embrace your eccentricities. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. Know that a problem only becomes a problem when you choose to see it as a problem.

Start doing projects that scare you and embracing the pursuits that terrify you. Where your fear lives is where your transformation lies. Remember that victims are frightened by change. And leaders grow inspired by it. Achieve 5 little goals each day. In 12 months this habit will produce 1850 little goals–which will amount to a massive elevation. Remember that ordinary people talk about their goals. Leaders get them done. With elegance, brilliance and finesse.

Make the choice to let go of your past. It’s dusty history. And polluting your future. It all happened for a reason to get you to here. Trust and know that hard work beats talent, every day of the week. Measure your success by your impact instead of your income.

Remember that every person you meet has a story to tell, a lesson to teach and a dream to do. Become the strongest person you know. Just battle proof and fortify your inner core so nothing can defeat you. Risk being rejected. All of the great ones do. All victory is an inside job, I think you’ll agree.

In a world with so much toxicity, be the kindest person you know. Smile. Forgive the unforgiven in your life. They did what they thought was right based on the level of their consciousness, at that stage of their personal journey. If they could have been more loving they would have been more loving. Be slow to criticize people and fast to affirm their gifts, talents and worth. Say “sorry” when you know you should say “sorry”. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot. Write handwritten thank you notes to your customers, teammates and family members.

Be a celebrator of other’s talents versus a critic. Haters never win. Stop gossiping , complaining and condemning . It drains your cognitive bandwidth and fills you with dangerous emotions. Stop being selfish. Contributing to the lives of others is a great move for more joyfulness and peacefulness in your days.

Be the rare-air performer who does the project no one else will do. Going to the fiery edges of your largest limits expands them. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable at least once a week. Know that potential unexpressed turns to pain. So live your talent by applying it and polishing it through study and stretching it via doing difficult work. Know that rising into the rare-air of best in world isn’t easy. Anything extraordinary demands rigor, sacrifice and extreme courage. And yet, it’s worth it. Remember that quality is remembered long after price is forgotten and cheap costs more.

Remember that your nutrition affects your mood plus your production so eat like an elite athlete, really calibrate your eating plan. Drink more water and get more rest . Breathe deeply, constantly. Brain tattoo the fact that all work is a chance to change the world. And, your life matters to all of us. Become the fittest person you know. Multiply your vitality and you’ll increase your creativity, productivity and prosperity. Exponentially.

Stop watching TV and definitely delete the news from your days. Instead, invest your time and resources into your pro and personal growth. Because as you become better at your craft and more exceptional as a person, you become indispensable to your industry and society. Ritualize the habit of reading for 60 minutes every day. Victims have large televisions yet small libraries.

Don’t just parent your kids—develop them. Grow their perspective, fuel their curiosity and introduce them to what’s most inspirational in our world. Build a strong family foundation while you grow your ideal career.

Keep your promises. You trade in your credibility. And you diminish it each time you say you’ll do something and don’t do it. Know your values. And then have the guts to live them—no matter what the crowd thinks and how the herd lives.

Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries. Travel often. It’s fantastic education. Become a purist. Read a book a week. Just a few books but great books.

Five true friends versus 5000 fake ones. A simpler, quieter life with more beauty. And bigger meaning. Remember that the quality of your friends will predict the size of your fortune. When I use the word “fortune” I mean everything from creative to economic to spiritual fortunes. If your parents are alive, go honor them. You’ll miss them tremendously when they’re gone.

Trust that in the end, everything will work out. And if it hasn’t all worked out, it’s not the end.

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Many people are intimidated by a strong personality . You’ll know whether you have a strong personality if people say things like, you’re too overbearing ; you’re too shameless; you’re too opinionated; you’re too intense; you’re too obsessed ;you’re too bossy; or anything worded in a similar way. People with “strong” personalities are always criticised for being too much of something. To the point where some people are irritated, annoyed, critical, jealous, or apprehensive towards you.

In a world that feeds on insecurity and fear, it’s become normal for people to be meek and hide among the herd – so it’s just natural to assume that these same people will feel triggered when they face someone who’s doing the opposite. And these rare gems who possess a genuine strength in personality are something we can all learn from. They radiate with the self-confidence we’re all bound to have, and they aren’t afraid to show their assets in an appropriate way.

The traits that make up for your strong personality and which cannot be shaken down by the insecurities of others, are as below:

You don’t let everyone into your life. Being aware of how inconsistent people can be today, you are very careful of who you let into your life. Your core philosophy of friendship is better to stay alone and true than be surrounded by fake people. That’s why you have a select number of people you can call friends, and you are happy with them. When it comes to friendship, quality means everything for you, while quantity is just a waste of time.

You don’t crave attention. You’re not the type of person who’ll do everything for a little attention. In fact, you fail to understand why people are so eager to be liked by others that they are ready to go to any lengths to gain their attention. However, your personality attracts people in such a way that most who go through all those struggles to get noticed simply envy you. It’s not you, though – it’s the people around you who want someone like you to be present in their lives.

You don’t need anybody’s approval. Sometimes people will do things that don’t sync with their personality just for the sake of receiving some approval. Others relentlessly try to reveal as much as they can about their lives to get that approval. Not you, though. You will do what you want to do and you won’t expect any kind of approval as long as you have yourself. Your strength in making decisions and following through comes from your motivation to achieve the goals you have set, not because others will like that.

You are repelled by ignorance, idiocy, and insensitivity. Your strong personality comes as a result of being thoughtful and well-informed. You don’t like to rush into irrational decisions because you always like to measure out the effect your actions will have on you and the world around you. However, this is not a quality many people can relate to, and you will be the first to notice. You simply can’t stand people who are ignorant in a world full of information and who choose to be insensitive and inconsiderate when they should be careful and rational.

You hate small talk. Small talk and all the dull and tedious expressions and words that keep on coming back – you simply hate it. Why talk about these irrelevant things when there are so many useful things to discuss? Not only do you find it a waste of time, but you simply don’t understand why people focus on staying where they are when the opportunities for growth are at every corner, in every conversation, and in every minute available.

You are a good listener. People keep on yammering about how they want to be heard and understood – but once they come across someone like you, who knows how to listen, the tables turn. You are well aware that the more you understand people, the more terrified they become. While there are those rare few who will truly appreciate your attention in the way you’re ready to give, most people like to complain about not being heard while begging that they never get to be heard.

You don’t put up with excuses. Not only do you never allow yourself to get by with excuses, but you utterly hate it when you see someone trying to place excuses where effort is due. You simply don’t have the time to listen to people whining about how they didn’t manage their time properly and place the blame on external factors. You know well that if you set your mind on it, there’s no obstacle big enough that can stop you, and you know that this doesn’t make you special in any way. Everybody is capable of achieving this – the question is, did they really want to?

You are fearless. While we all have our fears, and it’s not ‘fearless’ in the literal sense, you know how to manage your emotions and overcome your fears. You know that the odds are just odds, and they can never become bigger than you – and you are ready to march in and face whatever is trying to hold you back. This makes you fearless – your ability to cope with your fears and use them to your advantage. The sense of fear only increases our awareness and makes us more cautious, and you use these abilities to overcome any obstacle that is trying to prevent you from growing.

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Nothing can bring more joy to life than beautifully fulfilling relationships. The depth of meaning, understanding and appreciation that these kinds of relationships bring is almost unfathomable. And, of course, as many people find out, nothing can bring so much pain as a broken relationship with someone dear to you. Yes, relationships make the world go round. However, the exciting thing is that we can do much to increase our chances of having terrific relationships—relationships that are fulfilling and exciting, rich with meaning, joy and love.

These are the basics that govern most human relationships and a list of some essentials that I believe make up the basics of healthy relationships:

Love. Now, this all depends on your definition of love. Most people think that love is a feeling but that point of view could be debatable. Actually, the concept of “like” is really about feelings. When you say you like someone, you are talking about how you feel. But when you say that you love someone, you are not necessarily talking about how you feel about them. Love is much deeper than a feeling. Love is a commitment we make to people to always treat that person right and honorably. For those we become especially close to, we will have feelings of love, but it is time for us to re-examine what we mean by love. We must expand our definition of what love means by including the commitment aspect of love. For healthy relationships, we must love everyone. We may not like them based on how we feel about them, but we should love them based on our definition of love above which in turn determines how we should act toward them and treat them right and honorably. This is the basis of all healthy relationships.

Serving Heart. Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want out of life.” The concept he is talking about is having a heart and life that is focused on serving other people. Life is best lived in service to others. This does not mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers and friends. We must learn to help those who deserve it, not just those who need it—life responds to deserve not need.

Honest Communication. In any good relationship, you will find open and honest communication. Communication is important because it is the vehicle that allows us to verbalize what is inside us and enables it to connect with another person. One person is feeling one thing, and through communication, another person can find that out and feel it too—amazing. And this is a vital goal in good relationships—to communicate, to tell each other what we are thinking and what we are feeling. It enables us to make a connection. Sometimes we are speaking and other times we are listening. Either way, the central tenet is communication for the sake of building the relationship and making it stronger. And here’s what’s exciting: If we just communicate, we can get by. But if we communicate skillfully, we can work miracles!

Friendliness. Put simply, relationships just work better when we are friendly with others. Being friendly can cushion the bumpy ride we sometimes experience in our relationships. Cheerfulness goes a long way toward building lasting relationships. Nobody wants to be around a grump, do they? The fact is that the friendlier you are the more you are going to have people who want to pursue longer-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with you. So cheer up, put on a smile, say kind words to others, treat people with a great deal of friendliness and you will see your relationships improve.

Patience. People being people, we have an awful lot of time for practice in the area of patience. People are not perfect and will constantly fail us. And conversely, we will fail other people. So while we try to have more patience for others, we need their patience as well. Often relationships break down because people give up and lose patience in about all kinds of friendships, marriages, business relationships, etc. Recent research has shown that those marriages that go through major turmoil, and then make it through, are very strong after doing so. Patience wins. Those who give up on relationships too early, or because the other person isn’t perfect, often forget that their next friend, their next spouse or business partner will not be perfect either! So we would do well to cultivate this skill and learn to have more patience.

Loyalty. Loyalty is a commitment to another person. Sadly, loyalty is often a missing element in many relationships, today. We have forgotten what it means to be loyal. Our consumer mentality has affected this to some degree. People are no longer loyal to a product. And unfortunately, many companies are not loyal to their clients or patrons. Regrettably, this has spilled over into our relationships. It is one thing to switch brands of dishwashing detergent. It is another thing altogether to switch friends. Sometimes we just need to commit to being loyal and let the relationship move forward. We need a higher level of stick-to-it-iveness! This kind of loyalty takes our relationships to a much deeper level. What a powerful and secure feeling of knowing that you have a relationship with someone who is loyal to you and you to them—that neither of you is going anywhere even when things get tough. Wow, how powerful!

Common Purpose. One of the basics of healthy relationships is to have a common purpose. Oftentimes this is a component is initially overlooked but for a long-term long-lasting relationship, it is vital. Think about how many friends you have met through the years while working on a common purpose. Maybe it was someone you met while participating in sports, while working on a political campaign, attending church, at your office, or anything that brought you together to work on a common purpose. You had that strong common bond of purpose that brought you together and held you together. Working together, building together, failing and succeeding together—all while pursuing a common purpose—is what relationships are made of. Find people with whom you have common purposes and sow the seeds of great relationships, and then reap the long-lasting benefits.

Fun. All good relationships have some element of fun. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean loud, raucous fun, though that is appropriate for some relationships. But even in business relationships, there should be some fun. It should be fun to do business with those who you are going to have a long-term business relationship. Fun brings enjoyment to the relationship and that is important. Oftentimes this key element can be easily forgotten or neglected in our family and spousal relationships. The fun things we did initially in a new relationship after a while can be taken for granted or simply fall by the wayside and we stop creating the fun and joy. Remember to consciously craft fun situations and moments, for these are the glue that hold our memories together and make our lives sweet.

There are so many key ingredients to making and maintaining great, long-lasting relationships. Each of the components we discussed above brings unique dynamics and rewards to your relationships. Let’s begin to focus on improving our relationships in these areas and see what miracles occur!

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Miyamoto Mushashi, known as Japan’s greatest ever swordsman, a Buddhist master, wrote these 21 rules two weeks before his death. Each rule teaches you to accept your circumstances in life, detach from outside forces you can’t control and be comfortable with who you are. These rules are powerful because the only way to cultivate acceptance is through continued practice in your actions and your attitude. The two things we actually have control over. And these rules give you the necessary guidelines to do just that. It might take months to rewire your brain, but it would be well worth it.

Accept everything just the way it is. Acceptance is perhaps the most important attitude to overcome mental challenges in life. It’s a state of mind. There’s no destination or goal with acceptance. It’s simply the process of exercising the mind to be tolerant of anything life throws at us. Why is it powerful? Because instead of fighting against negative emotions like anxiety and stress, you’re actually accepting them the way they are. You’re not bitter, and you’re not creating more negativity out of your negativity. Through acceptance you pave the path for negative emotions like anxiety to become less powerful. You’re not fighting against them and making them worse. But to be clear: Acceptance is not the following: It’s not indifference or apathy. It does not involve giving up or not trying. It’s simply about accepting things without judging them. It is what it is. Whatever happens happens. It’s about being patient and allowing the natural flow of things to take place.

Do not seek pleasure for its own sake. As humans, we are unhappiest when we become dissatisfied with what we have, and decide that we want more. When we seek pleasure for pleasure’s sake, we put ourselves in an endless loop of desiring that’s only temporarily satisfied when we experience that pleasure. But feelings don’t last forever. And before you know it, you’ll be back desiring again. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and enjoy pleasure when you experience it. It just means you won’t be constantly seeking pleasure for its own sake. You appreciate what you have in every moment, and sometimes that will be pleasurable emotions. But you also won’t be unhappy when you aren’t experiencing pleasure.

Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling. Same as above, feelings don’t last forever. Emotions are transient. You won’t be happy all the time, and wanting to be so will only make you unhappy.

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world. When you think of yourself too much, you amplify your ego and your insecurities. Happy people are the ones who focus on helping others. There’s a beautiful Chinese Proverb which describes this perfectly, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” In other words: Be humble, don’t take yourself too seriously and focus on helping others.

Be detached from desire your whole life long. Buddhism says that desiring leads to suffering. Why? Because when you are desiring, you are dissatisfied with what you have right now. And when you get what you want, this leads you down an endless loop of desiring. If you can forget about the idea of wanting, you can learn to be comfortable and grateful for what you have right now, which is key to inner peace.

Do not regret what you have done. Regret is a useless emotion, isn’t it? You can’t change what’s happened. Yes, you can learn from what happened, but that doesn’t involve experiencing regret. Sometimes we can’t help but regret things in life, but it’s important not to dwell on it. It’s useless to do so.

Never be jealous. Another useless emotion. It also means you’re insecure with yourself, because you are envious of someone else. Instead, look inside yourself and be grateful for who you are and what you have.

Never let yourself be saddened by separation. It sucks to separate from someone you want to be with. But getting sad over it won’t help you or them. Sometimes you just need to toughen up and appreciate what you have, not what you lose.

Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others. Again, complaining without action doesn’t help you achieve anything. It only serves to raise your toxic energy. And don’t let what other people do affect you as well. You’re not in control of what they do. But you are in control of how you react to what they do.

Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love. This one’s probably a controversial one for many. For me, too. I think we can all agree that you don’t want to be guided by lust. It’s similar to chasing emotions that don’t last forever and will only give you temporary fulfilment. Love, however, is a different story. I think that love is one of the most important emotions to be guided by. Your family is everything, whoever they are, and your life is much more fulfilled when you do whatever you can for them.

In all things have no preferences. Similar to desiring, by having preferences, you’re not happy with what you have right now. You’re dissatisfied and unable to enjoy the present moment. So if you can, try not to prefer something over something else, especially if you can’t control it.

Be indifferent to where you live. If you can change where you live, then by all means go ahead. And don’t stop looking for opportunities to do so. But besides doing that, it’s more fulfilling to appreciate where you are right now, rather than wishing it were different.

Do not pursue the taste of good food. Interesting one. Focus on eating to be healthy and for nourishment. Desiring delicious food can lead to addiction and attachment. This goes for alcohol and drugs, too.

Do not hold onto possessions you no longer need. It’s easy to get cluttered with junk that you don’t need. But if it’s not benefiting your life, get rid of it. More space and clear thinking is what’s needed. Not more stuff.

Do not act following customary beliefs. Follow your own common sense. Do what makes sense to your own values, not what other people think. Decide for yourself. You know what’s right and wrong. You don’t need someone else to tell you.

Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful. A tribute to his swordsman time, but we can apply this for our lives, too. It’s better to be an expert in one thing, than okay at everything.

Do not fear death. Extremely hard to do. But it’s something none of us will escape. We can either learn to accept that our own and our close one’s time will eventually come, or fight against it causing anxiety and sadness for the rest of our lives.

Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age. What good will they do you when you’re gone? Only collect what is useful. Don’t waste your time.

Respect Buddha without counting on their help. Take responsibility for yourself. Don’t count on luck or god to pull you through. Tackle the endeavors you know are within your capabilities. Keep doing the right thing and everything else will fall into place.

You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor. Don’t do anything that you won’t be able to live with for the rest of your life. Your actions define you, not your beliefs.

Never stray from the way. Stay humble, do the right thing and always keep learning and growing.

When it comes to a tidbit of knowledge, the author is more important than the message. People give weight to certain sayings and quotes simply based on who wrote them. But what about the unknown authors of the world? are their insights any less valuable? Some of the greatest quotes I have ever read came from sources that were either unknown or obscure. It’s not who said it, it is what was said that matters.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from unknown authors.

‘Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future, that he does not enjoy the present moment. As a result, he does not live in the present or the future, he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never truly lived.’’

“Spend the day appreciating every little thing that comes your way, and you’ll end the day feeling deeply grateful for your life.”

“The true mark of maturity is when somebody hurts you and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back.”

“When you start doubting yourself, remember how far you have come. Remember everything that you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.”

“Frame every so-called disaster with these words, ’In five years, will this matter’?”

“I’m only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand.”

“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

“Open-minded people do not impose their beliefs on others. They just accept all of life’s perspectives and realities, doing their own thing in peace without judging anyone.”

“You have to take the good with the bad, smile when you’re sad, love what you’ve got, and remember what you had. Always forgive but never forget, learn from your mistakes, but never regret. People change, things go wrong, just remember, life goes on.”

“You don’t need religion to have morals. If you can’t determine right from wrong, then you lack empathy, not religion.”

The older you grow, the quieter you become. Life humbles you gradually as you age. You realize how much nonsense you’ve wasted time on. What’s the biggest nonsense creator of them all? Your mind and the fantasies it likes to project into every facet of your life. You’ve likely fantasized your way into headaches and heartaches hundreds of times in the past and you aren’t alone either. We all stress ourselves out because of fantasies. We all procrastinate to the point of failure because of fantasies. We all get angry with others, with ourselves, and with the world at large because of fantasies. We all miss out on many of life’s most beautiful and peaceful moments because of fantasies. This might seem hard to believe at first, so let’s look at some common examples…

When we wake up and immediately start fantasizing and worrying about all the things we have to do, we aren’t really doing anything but adding stress to an otherwise pleasant morning.

When we fear the potential of failure, and we procrastinate in response to our fear, our fearful fantasies force us to miss great opportunities for success.

When someone upsets us, this is often because they aren’t behaving according to our fantasy of how they “should” behave. The frustration, then, stems not from their behavior but from how their behavior differs from our fantasy.

When we think about making a healthy change in our lives like getting in shape , we are initially inspired by the fantasy of how easy it will be, but that’s not reality. So when the reality of working hard to exercise and eat right surfaces doesn’t match up with our inspiring fantasy, we give up.

When we are having a conversation with someone, we are distracted with fantasies of how this person views us, or we are distracted by our propensity to fantasize about how to respond before they even finish talking, and thus we miss the opportunity to connect more deeply with them.

When we move through our days, our minds are stuck fantasizing about other times and places, and so we miss the pleasant surprises and simple pleasures surrounding us.

Of course, sometimes we get out of our own heads long enough to focus on the present and make the best of it, but it’s NOT often enough.

Just think about your life and how often you let fantasies get the best of you. How does it affect you? It certainly doesn’t lead to happiness and success. You start believing your own lies and your behavior naturally backs the lies up. You start procrastinating. You put your biggest goals on the back burner. You always feel guilty and regretful for not taking action. You give up when the first obstacle comes your way. You blame others. Your important relationships take a major hit. And the list goes on and on. And you know what the really scary part is? Most people don’t know they are digging themselves a hole by repetitively listening to their fantasies and the negative self-talk they produce.

To get yourself out of this mess, you need to literally rewire your brain and replace negative, distracted mindsets with positive, productive ones. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t think I have what it takes,” you must start saying, “I can figure this out!” And by doing so, you’ll stop saying, “I’m not ready yet,” and you’ll start taking action because the new mindset is something along the lines of “I am ready to learn and grow!”

Bottom line: If you’ve caught yourself stuck with similar fantasies and negative thought patterns, you need to take action ASAP. The longer you let these little demons linger around, the harder it is to get rid of them. And of course, if you’re struggling with any of this, know that you are not alone.

George Gurdjieff was an influential early 20th-century mystic, philosopher, and spiritual teacher. He observed that most humans live their lives in a state of hypnotic “waking sleep. To combat this, Gurdjieff developed a method to transcend to a higher state of consciousness and achieve full human potential. These are his “commandments,” simple ways you can progress on your journey towards waking up:

Ground your attention on yourself. Be conscious at every moment of what you are thinking, sensing, feeling, desiring, and doing.

Always finish what you have begun.

Whatever you are doing, do it as well as possible.

Do not become attached to anything that can destroy you in the course of time.

Develop your generosity – but secretly.

Treat everyone as if he or she was a close relative.

Organize what you have disorganized.

Learn to receive and give thanks for every gift.

Stop defining yourself.

Do not lie or steal, for you lie to yourself and steal from yourself.

Help your neighbor, but do not make him dependent.

Do not encourage others to imitate you.

Make work plans and accomplish them.

Do not take up too much space.

Make no useless movements or sounds.

If you lack faith, pretend to have it.

Do not allow yourself to be impressed by strong personalities.

Do not regard anyone or anything as your possession.

Share fairly.

Do not seduce.

Sleep and eat only as much as necessary.

Do not speak of your personal problems.

Do not express judgement or criticism when you are ignorant of most of the factors involved.

Do not establish useless friendships.

Do not follow fashions.

Do not sell yourself.

Respect contracts you have signed.

Be on time.

Never envy the luck or success of anyone.

Say no more than necessary.

Do not think of the profits your work will engender.

Never threaten anyone.

Keep your promises.

In any discussion, put yourself in the other person’s place.

Admit that someone else may be superior to you.

Do not eliminate, but transmute.

Conquer your fears, for each of them represents a camouflaged desire.

Help others to help themselves.

Conquer your aversions and come closer to those who inspire rejection in you.

Do not react to what others say about you, whether praise or blame.

Transform your pride into dignity.

Transform your anger into creativity.

Transform your greed into respect for beauty.

Transform your envy into admiration for the values of the other.

Transform your hate into charity.

Neither praise nor insult yourself.

Regard what does not belong to you as if it did belong to you.

Do not complain.

Develop your imagination.

Never give orders to gain the satisfaction of being obeyed.

Pay for services performed for you.

Do not proselytize your work or ideas.

Do not try to make others feel for you emotions such as pity, admiration, sympathy, or complicity.

Do not try to distinguish yourself by your appearance.

Never contradict; instead, be silent.

Do not contract debts; acquire and pay immediately.

If you offend someone, ask his or her pardon; if you have offended a person publicly, apologize publicly.

When you realize you have said something that is mistaken, do not persist in error through pride; instead, immediately retract it.

Never defend your old ideas simply because you are the one who expressed them.

Do not keep useless objects.

Do not adorn yourself with exotic ideas.

Do not have your photograph taken with famous people.

Justify yourself to no one, and keep your own counsel.

Never define yourself by what you possess.

Never speak of yourself without considering that you might change.

Accept that nothing belongs to you.

When someone asks your opinion about something or someone, speak only of his or her qualities.

When you become ill, regard your illness as your teacher, not as something to be hated.

Look directly, and do not hide yourself.

Do not forget your dead, but accord them a limited place and do not allow them to invade your life.

Wherever you live, always find a space that you devote to the sacred.

When you perform a service, make your effort inconspicuous.

If you decide to work to help others, do it with pleasure.

If you are hesitating between doing and not doing, take the risk of doing.

Do not try to be everything to your spouse; accept that there are things that you cannot give him or her but which others can.

When someone is speaking to an interested audience, do not contradict that person and steal his or her audience.

Live on money you have earned.

Never brag about amorous adventures.

Never glorify your weaknesses.

Never visit someone only to pass the time.

Obtain things in order to share them.

If you are meditating and a devil appears, make the devil meditate too.

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Every one of us has experienced feelings of regret. We regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were too afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make, the big opportunity you procrastinated on, that friend you never called, those important words you left unspoken, etc. But it’s not too late to set things straight. We’re still here breathing.

Today, we have an opportunity to change tomorrow. Right now we can choose to erase regret from our later years. It’s time to make the best of each and every day. Here are some ideas to get you started – you can start doing now that you won’t regret a decade down the road:

Let go of those who are already gone. You’re going to mingle with a lot of people in your lifetime. You’re going to have first kisses you feel all the way down to your toes and think “Oh my gosh, I love him,” but really… you loved the kiss. You’re going to meet a friend you think you will know forever, but then something will change and you two will go your separate ways. You’re going to explore different parts of your life with different people who aren’t in it for the long haul, and that isn’t a bad thing. Life is a series of stories, and the way our stories intersect is remarkable. Sometimes people are in our lives for the whole story. Sometimes they are just a short chapter or two. It takes a brave person to know when that chapter is over, and then to turn the page. Be brave. Embrace your goodbyes, because every “goodbye” you receive in life sets you up for an even better “hello.”

Work a little less and spend a little more time smiling with people you love. You’ve heard the saying, “The best things in life are free.” Well spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying the antics of a pet, seeing your son smile, experiencing intimate and heart-felt moments with your significant other – these times are precious and priceless. Don’t get so caught up in the rat race, working 60+ hours a week, to the point where you are too stressed and exhausted to enjoy your closest relationships. By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices to work on the right things, it is possible to live on less, and thus work fewer hours and enjoy more of what truly matters.

Practice relentless kindness. Kindness is always the best response to any situation. When you grow older and you look back on your life, you will inevitably forget a lot of the stuff that seemed so important when you were young. You probably won’t remember what your high school or college GPA was. You will look at your old classmates on Facebook (or some other online social network) and wonder why you ever had a crush on that girl/guy. And you will have the toughest time remembering why you let certain people from your past get the best of you. But you will never forget the people who were genuinely kind – those who helped when you were hurt, and who loved you even when you felt unlovable. Be that person to others as often as possible. And, as you know, what goes around comes around.

Pay more attention to the life you are actually living in each moment. Is there anything worse than getting somewhere and not realizing how you got there? Even worse is only realizing how great something is after it’s gone. Living in the present is a basic notion, but as with most simple things, we often find a way to complicate it. But there’s nothing complicated about learning to appreciate and notice life as it is happening. And trust me, you won’t remember the cool Instagram photo you saw on your feed anyway. You will, however, want to remember the conversations you had and the stories you lived through. So focus accordingly.

Many of us are right there with you, working hard to feel better, think more clearly, and live a life free of headaches and heartache. And believe it or not, I’m currently in the process of re-visiting and focusing my mind on these positive principles and keeping myself on the right track. And of course, if you’re struggling with any of these points, know that you are not alone.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.~ Eckhart Tolle

Try to humble yourself and hold a two minute gratitude session. Simply sit down or kneel, with no distractions, close your eyes, and think about what you are grateful for and who you are grateful for. You don’t have to do it every day, but let me tell you, on the days you do it, it will make you very happy.

Why should that be? Why should the simple act of thinking about who and what you are grateful for make such a big difference in your life?

Just a few reasons:

It reminds you of the positive things in your life. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they’re loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways.

It turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.

It reminds you of what’s important. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your children are alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.

It reminds you to thank others. The simple act of saying “thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you and just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are and what they do. It costs you nothing but makes someone else happy. And making someone else happy will also make you happy. Simple acts of gratitude don’t cost you much (especially once you get over the initial discomfort some people feel with thanking others). But they can make a huge difference.

What you should thank for in your gratitude sessions? Thank your loved ones, for all they do to you. Thank strangers who’ve shown you little acts of kindness. Thank God, for the life he’s given you. Thank people around the world for the things they’ve done to make the world better. Thank yourself, for things that you’ve done because it’s important to recognize your own accomplishments.

If you want to live a life of gratitude, here are some suggestions:

Morning gratitude session. Take 2-3 minutes each morning to give thanks, to whoever or whatever you’re grateful for. You don’t have to do anything, other than close your eyes and silently give thanks. This one act can make a huge difference.

Call to say thanks. Sometimes you might think about something nice that someone did for you. When you do, pick up the phone and call the person to say thanks. Let them know what they did that you’re grateful for, and why you appreciate it. Takes a minute or two. If it’s too early to call, make a note to call later. Even better is telling them in person, if you happen to see them or if they’re on your route. Almost as good is a thank you email — keep it short and sweet.

Give thanks for ‘negative’ things in your life. There are always two ways to look at something. Many times we think of something as negative — it’s stressful, harmful, sad, unfortunate, difficult. But that same thing can be looked at in a more positive way. Giving thanks for those things is a great way to remind yourself that there is good in just about everything. Problems can be seen as opportunities to grow, to be creative.

Learn a gratitude prayer. There are many prayers that can remind you to be grateful. Find one you like, and print it out or make it your desktop wallpaper. Here is one , I like….

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire, If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something, For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times, During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, They give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge, It will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes, They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, It means you’ve made a difference.

Be thankful for the good things in your life, Life of fulfilment comes to those who are thankful for the setbacks.

Be thankful for your troubles, Gratitude will turn them into blessings.

It is impossible to live without failing at something , unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all in which case you have failed by default .~ J K Rowling

Amazon’s Fire Phone was a failure. It’s the kind of thing most managers hope people soon forget about. But Amazon embraced it. Jeff Bezos said in an interview not long after the phone was pulled: “If you think that’s a big failure, we’re working on much bigger failures right now. I am not kidding. Some of them are going to make the Fire Phone look like a tiny little blip.”

Netflix just announced the cancellation of several expensive original shows. This is also the kind of thing most media CEOs get mad at and demand a strategy shift. Which is what Reed Hastings did. Except his demand was that more Netflix shows should fail: “Our hit ratio is way too high right now. I’m always pushing the content team. We have to take more risk. You have to try more crazy things, because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.”

Amazon and Netflix owe a lot of their success to their ability to fail well. It’s a unique trait. It’s just failing. And it’s not just accepting failure in order to learn something. Failing well is a special, difficult, thing. What sticks out is that many startups and venture investors embrace risk with both hands, while many public investors view their job as taming and avoiding risk. Both can learn from each other. Because either can be a disaster.

Anything competitive requires trying something new, and a lot of new things don’t work as planned. But risk has to be taken in manageable doses, avoiding catastrophic errors that could put you out of business. This sounds simple but it’s so rare and difficult to execute on. Risk is easiest in two speeds: All in, or none at all. It’s the balance between the two that lets you survive long enough to reap the rewards of things with big returns, since big returns come from things with low odds of success.

No one makes good decisions all the time. The most impressive people are packed full of horrendous ideas that they often act on. But those who stick out can absorb the damage of their bad ideas. They fail at lot, but they’re really good at it. They consciously take big enough risks to move the needle but not so big that they can’t live another day to fail at something else. Compounded over time this can add up to something extraordinary.

The Chris Rock show on TV is hilarious, flawless. The Chris Rock that performs dozens of small clubs each year is just pretty good. This is by design. No comedic genius is smart enough to know what jokes are sure to land well. Every big comedian tests their material in small clubs before using it in big venues. The stakes are lower in small clubs – you may disappoint 30 drunk people, but you won’t hurt your reputation with HBO. It’s manageable damage. Rock was once asked if he missed small clubs. He responded: “ When I start a tour, it’s not like I start out in arenas. Before this last tour, I performed in this place in New Brunswick called the Stress Factory. I did about 40 or 50 shows getting ready for the tour. “

One newspaper profiled these small-club sessions. It described Rock thumbing through pages of material, not all of them landing. “I’m going to have to cut some of these jokes,” he says in the middle.

Everyone needs their own Stress Factory Comedy Club – a strategy to try something you don’t know will work and absorb the damage of its failure in a manageable way.

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How do we heighten our happiness? There are many ways and one size does not fit all. Below are a few suggestions that I am hopeful will work to give you happiness.

Savor the joy of simple pleasures. The best things in life are free. They come in the form of simple pleasures and they appear right in front of you at various locations and arbitrary times. They are governed by Mother Nature and situational circumstance and captured by mindful awareness. It’s all about taking a moment to notice the orange and pink sunset reflecting off the pond water as you hold hands with someone you love. Noticing these moments and taking part in them regularly will bring unpredictable bursts of happiness into your life.

Look for happiness in the right places. When we’re young we look for happiness in drugs, sex, alcohol, parties, fast cars, extreme sports, etc. Then when we get a little older, we look for happiness in more “mature” ways – a stable partner, romantic getaways, walks along the beach, jazz music, a night at the bar with some friends. Do they work? Do these things make us happy? Sure they do. They raise our happiness temporarily. But people have a baseline of inner happiness. Certain events and possessions, like an unexpected windfall, might raise or lower our happiness momentarily, but soon we return to our inner baseline. The key is to gradually raise this baseline. Enjoy the moment, but don’t completely ignore long-term goals. What will you be proud to have accomplished, or disappointed that you didn’t do, five years from now?

Perform random acts of kindness on a regular basis. Pay for a stranger’s coffee in line at Starbucks. Buy the office receptionist flowers just to say, “Thank you.” Help an elderly lady with her groceries. There’s nothing more rewarding than putting smiles on the faces around you.

Help others when you’re able. In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you – something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less.

Share time with people you care about, and experience life together. The quality of our personal relationships correlates directly with our overall sense of worth and happiness. Sometimes in the midst of life’s chaos we forget to do the little things that remind us we’re part of something greater than ourselves. We need a certain amount of meaningful contact with other people to feel fully alive. There are few things more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your family and closest friends who lived these moments alongside you. And remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.

Accept things when they are less than perfect. If you find yourself at a point of intense decision making where you’re caught in a spiral of over-analysis and you’re making no progress, take a deep breath, break the spiral, make an educated guess on the next logical step, and take it. Even if you get it wrong you’ve learned something, which is better than doing nothing. Your failures along the road to your goals are simply opportunities to learn and grow. Remember, the real world doesn’t reward perfectionists; it rewards people who get things done.

Invest a little time, energy and money into yourself every day. Happiness comes as a side-effect of learning new skills and challenging yourself. Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information. When you invest in yourself, you can never lose, and over time you will change the trajectory of your life. You are simply the product of what you know. The more time, energy and money you invest acquiring pertinent knowledge, the more control you have over your life.

And of course, if you’re struggling with any of these points, know that you are not alone. Many of us are right there with you, working hard to feel better, think more clearly, and live a life free of headaches and heartache. Be happy and remain happy. Remember , happiness is a choice, choose happiness everyday.

A change in bad habits leads to a good change in life. Here are twenty bad habits many of us repeatedly struggle with:

Focusing on the negative. Positive thinking isn’t about expecting the best thing to happen every time, it’s about accepting that whatever happens is good for this moment, and then making the best of it. So stay positive, and hold on to what’s truly important. Let your worries go. No matter how you look at it, some outcomes just don’t make sense right away. Choosing to carry on with your goals through this uncertainty is what matters.

Expecting life to be easy. Nothing starts easy; everything begins at some level of difficulty. Even waking up in the morning sometimes requires notable effort. But one beautiful thing about life is the fact that the most difficult challenges are often the most rewarding and satisfying.

Overlooking your true path and purpose. What really matters in life is not what we buy, but what we build; not what we have, but what we share with the world; not our capability but our character; and not our success but our true significance. Live a life that makes you proud – one that matters and makes a difference. Live a life filled with passion and love.

Chasing after those who don’t want to be caught. Do not chase people. Be you, do your own thing and work hard on your passions. The right people who belong in your life will eventually come to you, and stay.

Not asking for help when you know you need it. No matter how far you’ve gone down the wrong road, you can always turn back. Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.

Letting one dark cloud cover the entire sky. Take a deep breath. It’s just a bad moment, or a bad day, not a bad life. Everyone has troubles. Everyone makes mistakes. The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.

Holding on to things you need to let go of. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things in life that should not be. Sometimes letting go is what makes us stronger, happier and more successful in the long run.

Spending time with people who make you unhappy. People can be cruel, and sometimes they will be. People can hurt you and break your heart, and sometimes they will. But only you can allow them to continuously hurt you. Value yourself enough to choose to spend time with people who treat you the way you treat them. Know your worth. Know when you have had enough. And move on from the people who keep chipping away at your happiness.

Not making time for those who matter most. When we take things for granted, these things eventually get taken away. Too often we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. Too often we are too stubborn to say, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” Too often it seems we hurt the ones closest to us by letting insignificant issues tear us apart. Appreciate what you have, who loves you and who cares for you. You’ll never know how much they mean to you until the day they are no longer beside you

Denying personal responsibility. You’re getting almost everything you’re getting right now based on the decisions you have made; and you will continue to receive the same things until you choose differently. You always have some element of control. There are always other options. The choices might not be easy, but they are available. You will not get a different result until you exercise a choice that forces you to grow by habit, by action, and by change.

Letting everyone else make decisions for you. Never allow someone or something that adds very little to your life, control so much of it. You’ve got to stop caring about what everyone else wants for you, and start actually living for yourself. Let go of the people and things that continuously hold you back and no longer serve you, because you only get one shot at life.

Giving up who you Remove yourself from any situation that requires you to give up any one of these three things: 1) Who you are. 2) What you stand for. 3) The goals you aspire to achieve.

Quitting as soon as things get slightly difficult. An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward; and such is life. When life is pulling you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to eventually launch you forward in a positive direction. So keep focusing, and keep aiming!

Doing too much and pushing too hard, without pausing. Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never find it, but because they never stop long enough to enjoy it. Sometimes we are so focused on what we want that we miss the things we need most.

Discrediting yourself for everything you aren’t.Stop discrediting yourself for everything you aren’t. Start giving yourself credit for everything that you are.

Running from current problems and fears. Trust me, if everyone threw their problems in a pile for you to see, you would grab yours back. Tackle your problems and fears swiftly, don’t run away from them. The best solution is to face them head on no matter how powerful they may seem. Either you own your problems and fears, or they will ultimately own you.

Constantly mulling over past hardships. You’ll never see the great things ahead of you if you keep looking at the bad things behind you. To reach up for the new, you must let go of the old. You are exactly where you need to be to reach your goals. Everything you’ve been through was preparation for where you are right now and where you can be tomorrow.

Denying your mistakes. Remember that most honorable people of all are not those who never make mistakes, but those who admit to them when they do. And then go on to do their best to make the wrong things right.

Expecting your significant other to be perfect. Remember that you will never find a perfect partner to love you in the exact way you had envisioned, only a person who is willing to love you with all that they are. Someone who will accept you for who you can and cannot be. And although they will never be perfect, finding a partner like this is even better.

Never allowing things to be good enough. We are human. We are not perfect. We are alive. We try things. We make mistakes. We stumble. We fall. We get hurt. We rise again. We try again. We keep learning. We keep growing. And we are thankful for this priceless opportunity called life.

Whether you’ve been married 50 years, you’re just dating, or you’re single, there’s one day on the calendar set aside to think about love and romance, Valentine’s Day. The holiday has its origins in the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. More than 1,500 years ago, Pope Gelasius I abolished the festival and declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day, and people around the world have celebrated it ever since. In the United States alone, we send nearly 200 million Valentine’s Day cards and spend at least $100 per person to show our loved ones that we care. That’s a lot of flowers and chocolate!

This article aims at giving you some timeless pieces of advice to help and guide you and your loved one to remain in love and in the mood of romance, always.

Don’t stay with someone who antagonizes you or belittles you.

If you feel lonely, you’re better off being alone.

Know when to walk away.

You can gauge a person’s love for you by how they treat you when they are upset with you.

Love is a verb, not a noun.

When a light bulb goes out, you fix the light bulb. You don’t get a new house.

Don’t settle for someone who has zero regard for your feelings or wants just because you’ve been together a long time.

Just because you love each other does not mean that you’re good together long-term.

No relationship is perfect and there will be conflict. What matters is the desire to solve the problem.

Always fight the problem, not the other person. If you keep this in mind when arguing, you’ll be able to actually resolve the issue than be mad at each other.

Don’t look for a girl you want to treat like a princess, look for a girl you want to treat like a partner.

There are a number of people you can be compatible with. No one is perfect. You have to work at love.

You’re not required to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.

Marry the one who gives you the same feeling you get when you see food coming at a restaurant.

The grass is not greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it.

Stop trying to find the right person and start trying to BE the right person.

The person who cares least in the relationship has the most control.

Don’t listen to other people’s comments. Make your own relationship rules.

It’s better to be happy than to be right.

Always be the first to genuinely apologize after a fight.

You can’t expect someone to love you when you can’t love yourself.

Just because you liked the friend-version of someone doesn’t mean you’ll like the relationship-version of them.

Before you move in with your partner, go on a road trip with them.

Don’t be afraid to open up and be vulnerable. Vulnerability can bring you closer together and strengthen the two of you.

When you and your SO are arguing, remember—it’s you and them versus the problem. Not you versus them.

Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

Don’t fall in love with someone’s potential.

It takes two happy individuals to make a happy relationship.

If the world didn’t give each other second chances, we would all be single.

Everyone is searching for the perfect person, but no one is trying to be the perfect person.

If you love the memories more than the relationship, it’s time to move on.

Just because a person is right or perfect for you, you may not be the right one for them.

If it’s broken, fix it. If you’ve lost count of how many times it’s broken, or the cost of repair far outweighs the initial outlay, throw it away and move on.

Out of all the things needed for a successful relationship, love barely makes the top 5. Honesty, loyalty, trust, and communication all have to be there.

Always hold hands when talking about the hard stuff. It helps to keep the negative emotions in check & shows you care.

Be the man or woman you would want your future or current child dating.

Love is about appreciation, not possession.

Don’t go to bed angry. Everything will be there and worse in the morning.

Always seduce your lover, even if you are in a committed relationship. Otherwise, another person will.

Talk to each other about problems, not friends and family.

Keep no secrets, tell no lies.

Sometimes you gotta wise up and let go. Yes, it hurts. But it’ll hurt more in the future.

Relationships aren’t hard. If it is hard, you are probably with the wrong person.

Love is not a feeling. Feelings fade, change, respond to situations and events. Love is a choice.

If it feels wrong at the beginning, it probably won’t get better.

If you’re keeping score you already lost.

Love is an action, not a feeling. It’s learned and developed skill, not an experience. Not that the romantic feeling doesn’t exist or isn’t a wonderful part of the relationship, but it doesn’t make it last.

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You could probably talk about the mysterious and inscrutable nature of Japanese culture for hours on end. What is most fascinating and captivating about this country is perhaps the fact that despite its embrace of modernity and immense technological achievements its people continue to maintain very strong links with their roots and ancient traditions. Perhaps this is where the root of enlightenment is to be found. To help you get an insight into the culture of this fascinating and deeply wise nation, here are some ancient Japanese sayings.

If a problem can be solved, then it’s not worth worrying about it. If it can’t be solved, then it’s useless to worry about it.

Having taken the time to think, venture to act. Once you’ve done so, stop thinking.

Do not hold back that which is departing; do not chase away that which is arriving.

Fast means going slowly without interruption.

It is better to be the enemy of a good person than the friend of a bad one.

There has never been a great individual who did not have ordinary people at their side.

He who strongly desires to rise up will think of a way to build a ladder.

A husband and wife should be similar to a hand and an eye: when one’s hand hurts, the eyes cry; and when the eyes cry, the hand wipes away one’s tears.

The sun does not know who is right or who is wrong. It shines without purpose and provides warmth to all.

A frog in a well does not know the greatness of the sea.

A long journey always begins with a short one.

He who drinks does not know the dangers of wine; he who doesn’t drink does not know its benefits.

Even if a sword is only required once in a lifetime, it should be worn all the time.

Beautiful flowers do not bear good fruit.

Grief, like a torn dress, should always be left at home.

When one is in love, even the scars left by smallpox are as beautiful as dimples on a person’s cheeks.

No one has ever stumbled whilst lying in bed.

One kind word can keep you warm for three months of winter.

Always make way for fools and madmen.

If you want to paint a branch, you have to hear the breath of the wind.

Check seven times before ever doubting someone.

Do everything that you can and leave the rest to fate.

Excessive honesty often borders on stupidity.

Fortune will always come in to a house with laughter.

He who endures for just half an hour longer than his opponent can achieve victory.

As soon as stones can swim, leaves will sink.

Even monkeys can fall from their trees.

Cold tea and cold rice are tolerable; what is intolerable is a cold gaze and harsh words.

If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.

If a woman wants something, she’ll climb a mountain to get it.

Ask a question and you feel shame for a moment. Not asking and not knowing means you will feel shame for your whole life.

A bad craftsman never made a perfect vase.

The earth always hardens after the rain.

The deepest rivers flow in silence.

If you decide to set off on your own journey, you’ll find yourself alone for a thousand kilometers.

Get in shape: Losing weight is the top resolution for Americans, and combined with “exercise more” and “stay fit and healthy” it is something that over a third of the population wishes to achieve. It’s easy enough to start an exercise and diet program, but the trick is to find a decent one that will give you steady results and will be easy to stick to in the long run. Have a look at these tricks, hacks, exercises and mistakes to avoid the best of your resolution.

Start eating healthier food, and less food overall: This is usually an extension of the previous resolution. Switching to a healthier diet can be incredibly tricky when we are surrounded by cheap junk food. However, with a good amount of determination and some basic tips you can slowly develop healthier eating habits. Learn to control emotional eating, be aware of reasons for diets to fail.

Stop procrastinating: The biggest barrier that keeps most people from reaching their goals is the desire to relax and do something fun instead of working hard. Once you get used to procrastinating it’s difficult to snap yourself out of it, so you’ll need to put in a lot of work to change this bad habit. There are many useful tips out there to find your way to stop procrastinating. There are also tools which can help you achieve this task.

Improve your concentration and mental skills: People have been trying to find ways to improve their focus and cognitive capacities for thousands of years, and most ancient civilizations had some combination of mental exercise and herbal medicine to help them reach this goal. Today we can use anything from apps to ancient meditation techniques to boost concentration and hone our mental skills. If you go through with this, you will be able to control your mood, learn faster and have an easier time solving problems.

Meet new people: When we get stuck in a rut, we usually end up staying at home most of the time, missing out on a lot of interesting opportunities for networking and having fun. Meeting new people can be beneficial to your mental well-being and help your career, so don’t be afraid to get out there and make some friends. Overcome your shyness, get some knowledge and go and get to know new and interesting people.

Become more active: Some people don’t really have a big weight problem, and they even get some exercise a few times a week, but they just sit around the most of the time at home and at work, which can have a negative effect on their posture and health. In that case, all you need is to find ways of moving around more throughout the day instead of staying hunched over the computer. It’s even more fun if you share your activity with friends and family.

Become more confident and take some chances: If you are confident other people notice it, and it is much easier to have your opinions heard, ask people out on dates and get ahead at work. A good dose of self-confidence will help you lead a much happier life overall. Don’t hesitate to get some input on ways to boost your confidence.

Earn more money: Even billionaires are always looking for ways to earn more money, and we common folk can definitely use an additional source of income to make life a bit more comfortable. Fortunately there are plenty of options available, like having side jobs, working as a freelancer or using the internet to your advantage.

Become more polite: Good manners have always been an important part of a civilized society. They make it easier to connect with others, avoid offending people and will ensure that others perceive you as a good and trustworthy person. So know the etiquette, be prepared or other manners in other countries, deal with rude people in the right way and learn how to say no.

Reduce stress: They say that stress is one of the biggest killers out there, and it can have a very destructive effect on your relationships as well as your health. It may be an unavoidable side effect of our hectic modern lifestyles, but it can be effectively managed with the help of useful, unconventional and easy to practice tricks for stress management.

Learn to be happier with your life: Even those that are in decent shape, make a good living and have stress under control can still be unhappy. It takes time and patience to learn how to find joy in the little things and not to let problems bring you down.

Get more quality sleep: With big TV’s, computers, smart phones, tablets and all sorts of gadgets with glowing lights and beeping alerts, it can be hard to get enough sleep at night. You should be gunning for at least 8 hours of sleep a night, and there are fairly simple ways to achieve this number if you make use of science and everyday hacks.

Give up cigarettes: A bit of bad habit that a lot of people don’t know how to kick, smoking will not only endanger your health, but can burn a hole in your wallet as well. Just be prepared to dedicate a lot of will power to giving up cigarettes once and for all.

Watch less TV: The average person wastes a lot of time in front of the TV, time that could have been better spent developing skills, learning or keeping your body active. Once you manage to cut down on TV time, you will realize just how long and productive a day can really be.

Read more: Books are an excellent way to gain a lot of knowledge on a huge variety of topics, and are also a great exercise for your brain. It’s not that difficult to go through 20 or more books in a year – you only need to make it a habit, discover your type of books and find a bit of time for reading here and there.

Find a significant other: We all need someone to hold at night, talk to and share our deepest secrets with, but finding the right person is a matter of trial and error. We need to go out and get to know a bunch of potential partners before we can find the one that we can get along with really well. Get inspired on your way towards love by these tips on the best places to meet people, asking someone out, and having an amazing and original first date.

Have better sex: Any healthy relationship requires a good deal of intimacy, and sex can actually help keep us mentally and physically healthy. The idea is to make it a fun and rewarding experience, and this is something that comes with practice and exercise.

Become tidier: There are a lot of slobs out there who can’t really get their stuff organized, and a cluttered desk or chaotic home will negatively affect your productivity and even your mood, so it helps to clear the clutter, clean your house and lead a tidier and more organized life.

Learn how to dress with style: The way you dress can say a lot about you, and wearing the right clothes can make you seem powerful and confident, which in turn can help you land a job, get promoted, and catch the eye of a lovely guy or girl. No matter if you’re male or female, know the dress code and live with style.

Spend more time with the people that matter: There is just too little time in this life for us to waste it on insincere, duplicitous and toxic people. We should focus on the people who we care about deeply and who care about us, as this is the best way to stay happy.

Start drinking in moderation or quit drinking altogether: While it is completely safe and healthy to drink one or two servings of an alcoholic beverage of your choice per day, not a lot of people can say that they can follow this rule effectively. Getting your drinking under control has plenty of benefits, but it can be a difficult process.

Get out of debt: You can’t really move forward in life if you are weighed down by debt. The road to financial freedom is a rocky one, but it is definitely manageable with a bit of planning and self-restraint. Take a look at these strategies and methods and pay off your debt. You won’t believe how good it will feel.

Start saving money: Once you have your debt under control, it’s time to start putting some money aside. A rainy day fund and some extra money that can go towards traveling abroad, fixing up the house or buying a new car are a welcome change of pace. Make use of these hacks and apps to save money efficiently.

Learn a new language: Not only will learning a new language help improve your communication skills, it will also look great on your resume and possibly open up some doors for you. These days there are plenty of resources that allow you to learn a language for free and in your spare time.

Volunteer and give more to charity: To devote your time and energy to helping those in need is a noble gesture and a reward in itself, but it is also an opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and boost your resume. Here’s how you can find time to volunteer in your busy life.

Pick up useful skills or fun hobbies: Just sitting around all day won’t get you anywhere. It is much better to use your free time in a constructive manner and pick up new skills while having fun at the same time. The Future-You will be glad that you did. No matter if you’re interested in communication skills or sports, find out how to learn new skills and hobbies in a short time.

Learn to let go of grudges and avoid moping: Times can be hard, and it may take a lot to overcome adversity, but sitting around and moping about it is just counterproductive. If you have a big fight with someone and fall out or get hurt over a small issue, you will only lose a friend or life partner and remain sad and bitter. Forgiveness is a much healthier way to deal with issues that should be left in the past.

Adopt a cute pet: There are tons of animal lovers out there that would be great at caring for a pet, but they often over think things, while some people just rush out and get a pet without understanding the responsibility involved. Be sure you know what you are in for and find a pet that fits your living conditions and lifestyle.

Become more organized: It doesn’t matter how much time you have on your hands if you can’t manage it properly – you’ll just spend most of the day running around aimlessly. When you get organized there will suddenly be more time to spare and things will start falling into place. Make it a habit, get help from apps and tools and enjoy your newly found leisure-time.

Travel more and see the world: You’ll need to have your finances in order, get the right equipment and invest some time and effort before you consider traveling across the globe, but there are ways of experiencing different cultures and visiting faraway places even on a tighter budget.

Learn to cook: Cooking is one of the essential skill that every man and woman should possess. It allows you to save money, eat the food you love just the way you like it and impress dates with lovely meals shared under candlelight. If you go through useful tips, keep your kitchen clean and avoid common mistakes, nothing stands between you and your 3-course-meal.

Go see your doctor more often: Staying healthy should be your top priority, but many people seem frighten of doctors and don’t go to the hospital nearly as often as they should, often waiting for their condition to significantly worsen. Regular checkups are a must, no matter how healthy you feel at the moment.

Reinvent yourself: If you don’t feel quite happy no matter what you do, it is perhaps time to make some serious changes in your life. Reinventing yourself can give you a whole new perspective on life and take you in directions you may never have dreamed were possible.

Stop being late all the time: Punctuality is a virtue that is held in high regard in our society. Being on time is a mark of a true professional, a dependable friend and caring partner, so it is a good idea to pick up a few tricks that can help you stay on time.

Learn how to be more self-reliant: Technology, a relatively decent government and corporations offering cheap ready-to-eat food and all manner of useful tools – these things have made us somewhat spoiled, and we often get well into adulthood without having what it takes to be independent and self-reliant. These skills are important to learn.

Turn your hobby into a career: If we could all manage to marry fun and productivity, and be able to make money doing what we love, we’d be a much more content and well-balanced society. This may not always be possible, but there are cases where a hobby can be turned into a lucrative career.

Get over an ex: It may be better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved, but it still hurts like crazy. Healing a broken heart is a process that takes time, but there are ways and tricks to make it through this difficult time without too much pain.

Learn to control your emotions: Uncontrolled anger can get you into a lot of trouble, but things like jealousy and pride are destructive in all circumstances. Gaining control over your feelings allows you to keep a level head and think more rationally, even during emotionally charged conflict situations.

Start being more responsible: A big part of growing up into a mature adult is the ability to think before making a decision. It is important to take responsibility for ones actions and avoid blaming everything on someone else, just as it is important to protect your family and provide for them.

Learn more about art, music, culture etc.: The best way to fit in when talking to a variety of people from different backgrounds is to have a well-rounded education. Topics like art, music, history and culture often baffle people, but they can be easy to comprehend if you spend enough time learning about them using helpful websites and online courses.

Spend less time on social media: Some people might not spend hours in front of the TV, or playing video games, but social media has become a serious addiction among a wide range of demographics. It’s fine to stay in touch with friends and family, but if you consistently spend more than an hour every day on social media, it’s time to make a change.

Learn how to defend yourself: Being able to ensure your own safety, and the safety of those you love, is a very important skill set to have. It’s not all about groin kicks and palm strikes, however. You need to learn how to conduct yourself and what kind of behavior to look out for in others.

Become more romantic: Romance is often the first casualty in longer, more serious relationships, but it doesn’t have to wither away. A few romantic gestures here and there can keep the passion going for decades. It will be fun, even if you’re not the romantic type.

Start remembering important dates: Speaking about romance and keeping a serious relationship fun, you don’t want to keep forgetting birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates. There are plenty of memory tricks that take very little time to master, so you’ll never forget another date again.

Become more social: Being a man, or woman, about town has its perks. You get to have fun, meet new people and find out interesting things, but you can also develop leadership skills and learn to work in a team. Even if you are an introvert or very shy and feel uncomfortable talking to others, there are ways to become a fairly active member of a community.

Start being more creative: There are times when we get mentally fatigued and our creativity just goes out the window. This is particularly bad if your job or hobby depends on you coming up with fresh ideas and thinking outside the box. As with anything else, there are many resources that help you spark your creativity in a number of different ways.

Start expressing yourself artistically: While some of us are more logical, with a scientific mind, most people still have a bit of a creative spark in them. Expressing yourself in some creative artistic way is a great form of stress relief and helps keep your mind sharp. Some of these activities will also help you stay active and burn some calories. So go in the arts, write, craft, make DIY projects – whatever makes your soul free.

Face your fears and insecurities: You will find this particular point masked beneath other New Year’s resolutions, but fear and insecurity are often the cause of several problems that we want to address. You need to think of it as surviving and controlling your fear rather than overcoming it, and it will enable you to shed off a lot of the insecurities that you have.

Start writing a book/journal: You’d be surprised to know just how many people out there have an interesting story to tell, but lack the confidence and skill to write everything down. Even if it is just a few random thoughts scribbled daily in a journal, you shouldn’t be afraid to give writing a go with a few tips and tricks.

Stick to the good healthy habits you’ve developed: The last, and most important point to mention is that all the positive changes you make have to be permanent. You will need to work on sticking with the good habits you have adopted, until they just become a natural part of who you are. That is how you achieve true self-improvement.

Well, there you have it – an extensive list of advice, tips and tricks to help you see your New Year’s resolution through and make some long-term changes in your life. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

1: Definiteness of Purpose. Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Without a purpose and a plan, people drift aimlessly through life.

2: Mastermind Alliance. The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others.

3: Applied Faith. Faith is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent.

4: Going the Extra Mile. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play. Going the extra mile is the action of rendering more and better service than that for which you are presently paid. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play.

5: Pleasing Personality. Personality is the sum total of one’s mental, spiritual and physical traits and habits that distinguish one from all others. It is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked by others.

6: Personal Initiative. Personal initiative is the power that inspires the completion of that which one begins. It is the power that starts all action. No person is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own.

7: Positive Mental Attitude. Positive mental attitude is the right mental attitude in all circumstances. Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure.

8: Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is faith in action. It is the intense emotion known as burning desire. It comes from within, although it radiates outwardly in the expression of one’s voice and countenance.

9: Self-Discipline. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline begins with the mastery of thought. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline calls for a balancing of the emotions of your heart with the reasoning faculty of your head.

10: Accurate Thinking. The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used.

11: Controlled Attention. Controlled attention leads to mastery in any type of human endeavor, because it enables one to focus the powers of his mind upon the attainment of a definite objective and to keep it so directed at will.

12: Teamwork. Teamwork is harmonious cooperation that is willing, voluntary and free. Whenever the spirit of teamwork is the dominating influence in business or industry, success is inevitable. Harmonious cooperation is a priceless asset that you can acquire in proportion to your giving.

13: Adversity & Defeat. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Individual success usually is in exact proportion of the scope of the defeat the individual has experienced and mastered. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

14: Creative Vision. Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination. It is not a miraculous quality with which one is gifted or is not gifted at birth.

15: Health. Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.

16: Budgeting Time and Money. Time and money are precious resources, and few people striving for success ever believe they possess either one in excess.

17: Habits. Developing and establishing positive habits leads to peace of mind, health and financial security. You are where you are because of your established habits and thoughts and deeds.

Like this:

Sooner or later, everyone you know will disappoint you in some way. They’ll say something or fail to say something that will hurt you. And they’ll do something or fail to do something that will anger you. It’s inevitable. Unfortunately, you make things worse when you stew over someone’s words and deeds. When you dwell on a rude remark or an insensitive action made by another person, you’re headed for deeper problems.

In fact, the more you dwell on these things, the more bitter you’ll get. You’ll find your joy, peace and happiness slipping away. And you’ll find your productivity slowing down as you spend more and more time thinking about the slight or telling others about it. Eventually, if you don’t stop doing it, you’ll even get sick. So what should you do the next time someone betrays you?

Take responsibility for your feelings. Even though the other person may be at fault, even though the other person wronged you, you are still responsible for your own feelings. In other words, other people do not ’cause’ your feelings. You choose them. For example, two different people could be told that their suggestions made at the staff meeting were ‘stupid and idiotic.’ One person may ‘choose’ to feel so hurt that he never speaks up at any other meeting again. The other person may ‘choose’ to feel sorry for the critic, sorry that the critic couldn’t see the wisdom and necessity of her suggestions.

As long as you blame other people for your feelings, as long as you believe other people caused your feelings, you’re stuck. You’re a helpless victim. But if you recognize the fact that you choose your feelings and you are responsible for your feelings, there’s hope. You can take some time to think about your feelings. And you can decide what is the best thing to say or do.

Walk away from disappointment. It’s difficult to do, but it’s possible. The famous 19th century Scottish historian, Thomas Carlyle, proved that. After working on his multi-volume set of books on ‘The French Revolution’ for six years, Carlyle completed the manuscript and took volume one to his friend John Stuart Mill. He asked Mill to read it. Five days later, Mill’s maid accidentally threw the manuscript into the fire. In agony, Mill went to Carlyle’s house to tell him that his work had been destroyed. Carlyle did not flinch. With a smile, he said,’ that’s all right, Mill. These things happen. It is a part of life. I will start over. I can remember most of it, I am sure. Don’t worry. It’s all here in my mind. Go, my friend! Do not feel bad.’ As Mill left, Carlyle watched him from the window. Carlyle turned to his wife and said, ‘I did not want him to see how crushed I am by this misfortune.’ And with a heavy sigh, he added, ‘Well the manuscript is gone, so I had better start writing again.’

Carlyle finally completed the work, which ranks as one of the great classics of all time. He had learned to walk away from his disappointment. After all, what could Carlyle have done about his burnt manuscript? Nothing would have resurrected the manuscript. All Carlyle could do was to get bitter or get started.

And what can you do about anything once it is over? Not much. You can try to correct it if it is possible, or you can walk away from it if it isn’t. Those are your only two choices. Sometimes you’ve just got to shake it off and step up. It’s like the farmer who had an old mule who fell into a deep dry well. As he assessed the situation, he knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the heavy mule out of the deep well. So the farmer decided to bury the mule in the well. After all, the mule was old and the well was dry, so he could solve two problems at once. He could put the old mule out of his misery and have his well filled. The farmer asked his neighbors to help him with the shoveling. To work they went. As they threw shovel-full of dirt after shovel-full of dirt on the mule’s back, the mule became frightened. Then all of a sudden an idea came to the mule. Each time they would throw a shovel-full of dirt on his back; he would shake it off and step up. Shovel-full after shovel-full, the mule would shake it off and step up. In not too long a time, the exhausted and dirty mule stepped over the top of the well and through the crowd.

That’s the same approach we all need to take. We need to shake it off and step up.

Forgive. It’s difficult, especially when the other person doesn’t deserve your forgiveness or doesn’t even seek it. It’s difficult when the other person is clearly in the wrong. Part of the difficulty comes from a common misunderstanding of forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person’s behavior is okay. And forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person is off the hook. He’s still responsible for his misbehavior. Forgiveness is about letting yourself off the emotional hook. It’s about releasing your negative emotions, attitudes, and behaviors. It’s about letting go of the past so you can go forward to the future. Everyone in your life, everyone on and off the job is going to disappoint you. If you know how to respond to those situations, you’ll be way ahead of most people. You’ll be able to live above and beyond your circumstances.

Like this:

The following are some regrets confessed by an old and dying person. Don’t let these regrets be a part your life. Live your life fully and without regrets.

Not traveling when you had the chance. Traveling becomes infinitely harder the older you get, especially if you have a family and need to pay the way for three-plus people instead of just yourself.

Not learning another language. You’ll kick yourself when you realize you took three years of language in high school and remember none of it.

Staying in a bad relationship. No one who ever gets out of a bad relationship looks back without wishing they made the move sooner.

Forgoing sunscreen. Wrinkles, moles, and skin cancer can largely be avoided if you protect yourself.

Missing the chance to see your favorite musicians. “Nah, dude, I’ll catch Nirvana next time they come through town.’’

Being scared to do things. Looking back you’ll think, what was I so afraid of?

Failing to make physical fitness a priority. Too many of us spend the physical peak of our lives on the couch. When you hit 40, 50, 60, and beyond, you’ll dream of what you could have done.

Letting yourself be defined by gender roles. Few things are as sad as an old person saying, “Well, it just wasn’t done back then.”

Not quitting a terrible job. Look, you gotta pay the bills. But if you don’t make a plan to improve your situation, you might wake up one day having spent 40 years in hell.

Not trying harder in school. It’s not just that your grades play a role in determining where you end up in life. Eventually you’ll realize how neat it was to get to spend all day learning, and wish you’d paid more attention.

Not realizing how beautiful you were. Too many of us spend our youth unhappy with the way we look, but the reality is, that’s when we’re our most beautiful.

Being afraid to say “I love you.” When you’re old, you won’t care if your love wasn’t returned — only that you made it known how you felt.

Not listening to your parents’ advice. You don’t want to hear it when you’re young, but the infuriating truth is that most of what your parents say about life is true.

Caring too much about what other people think. In 20 years you won’t give a darn about any of those people you once worried so much about.

Supporting others’ dreams over your own. Supporting others is a beautiful thing, but not when it means you never get to shine.

Not moving on fast enough. Old people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but wasted time.

Holding grudges, especially with those you love. What’s the point of re-living the anger over and over?

Not standing up for yourself. Old people don’t take sh*t from anyone. Neither should you.

Not volunteering enough. OK, so you probably won’t regret not volunteering Hunger Games style, but nearing the end of one’s life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.

Neglecting your teeth. Brush. Floss. Get regular checkups. It will all seem so maddeningly easy when you have dentures.

Missing the chance to ask your grandparents questions before they die. Most of us realize too late what an awesome resource grandparents are. They can explain everything you’ll ever wonder about where you came from, but only if you ask them in time.

Working too much. No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.

Not learning how to cook one awesome meal. Knowing one drool-worthy meal will make all those dinner parties and celebrations that much more special.

Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment. Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing.

Failing to finish what you start. Failing to finish what you start. “I had big dreams of becoming a nurse. I even signed up for the classes, but then…”

Never mastering one awesome party trick. You will go to hundreds, if not thousands, of parties in your life. Wouldn’t it be cool to be the life of them all?

Not spending enough time with loved ones. Not spending enough time with loved ones. Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count.

Never performing in front of others. This isn’t a regret for everyone, but many elderly people wish they knew — just once — what it was like to stand in front of a crowd and show off their talents.

Not being grateful sooner. It can be hard to see in the beginning, but eventually it becomes clear that every moment on this earth — from the mundane to the amazing — is a gift that we’re all so incredibly lucky to share.

Like this:

A lot of people are good at what they do. Some are even elite. A select few are completely unstoppable. Those who are unstoppable are in their own world. They don’t compete with anyone but themselves. You never know what they will do—only that you will be forced to respond. Even though they don’t compete with you, they make you compete with them.

Are you unstoppable? Let me suggest a few ideas that have helped people becoming unstoppable .

Don’t think—know and act. “Don’t think. You already know what you have to do, and you know how to do it. What’s stopping you?”~Tim Grover. Rather than analyzing and thinking, act. Attuned to your senses, and with complete trust in yourself, do what you instinctively feel you should. As Oprah has said, “Every right decision I have ever made has come from my gut. Every wrong decision I’ve made was the result of me not listening to the greater voice of myself.” The moment you start thinking, you’ve already lost. Thinking swiftly pulls you out of the zone.

Always be prepared so you have the freedom to act on instinct. “Just as the yin-yang symbol possesses a kernel of light in the dark, and of dark in the light, creative leaps are grounded in a technical foundation.”~ Josh Waitzkin. Become a master of your craft. While everyone else is relaxing, you’re practicing and perfecting. Learn the left-brained rules in and out so your right brain can have limitless freedom to break the rules and create. With enhanced consciousness, time will slow down for you. You’ll see things in several more frames than others. While they’re trying to react to the situation, you’ll be able to manipulate and tweak the situation to your liking.

Don’t be motivated by money or anything external. Having nice things is, well, nice. But for you, it’s never been about the money, prestige or anything else outside of you. Take these things away and nothing changes for you. You’re still going to be pushing your personal limits and giving it your all. Give these things to you and they won’t destroy you like they do most people.

Never be satisfied. “The drive to close the gap between near-perfect and perfect is the difference between great and unstoppable.”~Tim Grover. Even after you achieve a goal, you’re not content. For you, it’s not even about the goal. It’s about the climb to see how far you can push yourself. Does this make you ungrateful? Absolutely not. You’re entirely humbled and grateful for everything in your life. Which is why you will never get complacent or lazy.

Always be in control. Unlike most people, who are dependent on substances or other external factors, you are in control of what you put in your body, how you spend your time and how long you stay in the zone. Act based on instinct, not impulse. Just because you could doesn’t mean you do. And when you do, it’s because you want to, not because you have to.

Be true to yourself. Although 70 percent of US employees hate their jobs and only one in three Americans report being happy, relentless and unstoppable people purge everything from their life they hate. Have the self-respect and confidence to live life on your terms. When something isn’t right in your life, change it. Immediately.

Never let off the pressure. “Pressure can bust pipes, but it also can make diamonds.”~Tim Grover. Most people can handle pressure in small doses. But when left to their own devices, they let off the pressure and relax. Not you. You never take the pressure off yourself. Instead , you continuously turn-up the pressure. It’s what keeps you alert and active.

Don’t be afraid of the consequences of failure. Most people stay close to the ground, where it’s safe. If they fall, it won’t hurt that bad. But when you choose to fly high, the fall may kill you. And you’re OK with that. To you, there is no ceiling and there is no floor. It’s all in your head. If something goes wrong—if you “fail”—you adjust and keep going.

Don’t compete with others. Make them compete with you. Most people are competing with other people. They continuously check-in to see what others in their space (their “competition”) are doing. As a result, they mimic and copy what’s “working.” Conversely, you’ve left all competition behind. Competing with others makes absolutely zero sense to you. It pulls you from your authentic zone. So you zone out all the external noise and instead zone in to your internal pressure to produce.

Never stop learning. Ordinary people seek entertainment. Extraordinary people seek education and learning. When you want to become the best at what you do, you never stop learning. You never stop improving and honing your skills and knowledge. Your unparalleled preparation is what gives you power. No one else is willing to pay the price you’ve paid.

Success isn’t enough—it only increases the pressure. For most people, becoming “successful” is enough. However, when you’re relentless, success only increases the pressure to do more. Immediately following the achievement of a goal, you’re focused on your next challenge.

Don’t get crushed by success. “Success can become a catalyst for failure.”~ Greg McKeown. Most people can’t handle success, authority or privilege. It destroys them. It makes them lazy. When they get what they want, they stop doing the very things that got them there. The external noise becomes too intense. But for you, no external noise can push harder than your own internal pressure. It’s not about this achievement, but the one after, and the one after that. There is no destination. Only, when you’re finished.

Completely own it when you screw up. “Implementing extreme ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.”~ Jocko Willink. No blame. No deception or illusion. Just the cold hard truth. When you mess up, you own it. And as the leader, you own it when your team fails. Only with extreme ownership can you have complete freedom and control.

Let your work speak for itself. “Well done, is well said.”~ Anthony Liccione. Cal Newport’s recent book, Deep Work, distinguishes “deep work” from “shallow work.” Deep work is: Rare; High value; And non-replicable (i.e., not easy to copy/outsource). Shallow work is: Common; Low value; Replicable (i.e., anyone can do it). Talking is shallow. Anyone can do it. It’s easily replicated. It’s low value. Conversely, deep work is rare. It’s done by people who are focused and working while everyone else is talking. Deep work is so good it can’t be ignored. It doesn’t need words. It speaks for itself.

Always work on your mental strength. “Mental resilience is arguably the most critical trait of a world-class performer, and it should be nurtured continuously. Left to my own devices, I am always looking for ways to become more and more psychologically impregnable. When uncomfortable, my instinct is not to avoid the discomfort but to become at peace with it. My instinct is always to seek out challenges as opposed to avoiding them.”~Josh Waitzkin. The better you can be under pressure, the further you’ll go than anyone else. Because they’ll crumble under pressure. The best training you will ever do is mental training. Wherever your mind goes, your body follows. Wherever your thoughts go, your life follows.

Confidence is your greatest asset. You’ve heard it before: Running a marathon is far more mental than physical. A person’s ability to run a marathon—or do anything hard—is more a reflection of their level of confidence than their actual ability. Your confidence determines: The size of challenges/goals you undertake; How likely you will achieve those goals ; and How well you bounce back from failures. If you’re not confident, you will never put yourself out there in the first place. When you’re confident, you don’t care how many times you fail, you’re going to succeed. And it doesn’t matter how stacked the odds seem against you.

Surround yourself with people who remind you of the future, not the past. When you surround yourself with people who remind you of your past, you’ll have a hard time progressing. This is why we get stuck in certain roles, which we can’t break free from (e.g., the fat kid or shy guy). Surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like allows you a fresh slate. You’re no longer defined by your past, only the future you are creating.

Let things go, but never forget. Being unstoppable requires carrying no unnecessary mental or emotional baggage. Consequently, you’ll need to immediately and completely forgive anyone who has wronged you. However, forgiveness doesn’t mean you forget. And it doesn’t mean you have to do further business with those who have wronged you.

Have clear goals.“While a fixation on results is certainly unhealthy, short-term goals can be useful developmental tools if they are balanced within a nurturing long-term philosophy.”~Josh Waitzkin. According to loads of psychology research, the most motivating goals are clearly defined and time-bound. Your goals can either be focused on your behaviors (e.g., I’m going to write 500 words per day) or on the outcomes you’re seeking (e.g., I’m going to get published on The New York Times by June 1, 2016). For most people, behaviorally-focused goals are the better and more motivating option. But when you crave the results so much that the work is irrelevant, your aim should be directed straight at the outcomes you want. However, results-focused goals are better when short-term and grounded in your long-term vision and philosophy. When your why is strong enough, the how will take care of itself.

Respond immediately, rather than analyzing or stalling. “He who hesitates is lost.”~ Cato. Anticipation of an event is always more extreme than the event itself—both for positive and negative events. Just do it. Train yourself to respond immediately when you feel you should do something. Stop questioning yourself. Don’t analyze it. Don’t question if it came from God or from yourself. Just act. You’ll figure out what to do after you’ve taken action. Until you take action, it will all be hypothetical. But once you act, it becomes practical.

Choose simplicity over complication. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”~Albert Einstein. It’s easy to be complicated. Most of the research and jargon in academia and business is over-complicated. Cutting to the core and hitting the truth is hard, because it’s simple. As Leonardo da Vinci has said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Very few people will give you the truth. When you ask them a question, it gets mighty complicated. “There are so many variables” or “It depends” they say. T. S. Eliot said it best, “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” Wisdom is timeless and simple. Learn wisdom and choose it.

Never be jealous or envious of someone else’s accomplishments. Being unstoppable means you genuinely want what’s best for everyone—even those you would consider your competitors. Jealousy and envy are the ego—which operates out of fear. The reason you are happy for other people’s success is because their success has nothing to do with you. You are in control of you. And you are different from every other person. There is no one who can do exactly what you can do. You have your own superpower with your own unique ability to contribute. And that’s what you’re going to do.

Take the shot every time. “If I fail more than you, I win.”~ Seth Godin. You miss every shot you don’t take. And most people don’t want to take the shot. Fear of failure paralyzes them. The only way you can become unstoppable is if you stop thinking about it. Just take the shot. Don’t do it only when it’s convenient or when you feel ready. Just go and make whatever adjustments you need after the fact.

Don’t get caught up in the results of your success. Always remain focused on what got you those results: the work. When you start doing noteworthy stuff, there are benefits that can become distractions. It can get easy to “ride the wave” of your previous work. Keep practicing. Perfect your craft. Never forget what got you here.

Think and act 10X. “When 10X is your measuring stick, you immediately see how you can bypass what everyone else is doing.”~ Dan Sullivan. Most people—even those you deem to be “world class”—are not operating at 10X. In truth, you could surpass anyone if you radically stretch your thinking and belief system. Going 10X changes everything. As Dan Sullivan has said, “10X thinking automatically takes you ‘outside the box’ of your present obstacles and limitations.” It pulls you out of the problems most people are dealing with and opens you to an entirely new field of possibilities. When you take your goal of earning $100,000 this year and change it to $1,000,000, you’re forced to operate at a different level. The logical and traditional approach doesn’t work with 10X. As Shane Snow has said, “10X progress is built on bravery and creativity instead. Working smarter.” The question is: Are you willing to go there? Not just entertain the thought for a second or two and then revert back to common thinking. No. Are you willing to sit with 10X thinking? Are you willing to question your own thought processes and open yourself to believing an entirely different set of possibilities? Could you convince yourself to believe in your 10X potential? Are you willing to undertake goals that seems lunacy, to you and everyone else? Are you willing to take the mental leap, trusting “the universe will conspire to make it happen”?

Set goals that far exceed your current capabilities.“You need to aim beyond what you are capable of. You need to develop a complete disregard for where your abilities end. If you think you’re unable to work for the best company in its sphere, make that your aim. If you think you’re unable to be on the cover of TIME magazine, make it your business to be there. Make your vision of where you want to be a reality. Nothing is impossible.”~Paul Arden. If your goals are logical, they won’t force you to create luck. Being unstoppable means your goals challenge you to be someone more than you currently are. As Jim Rohn has said, “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.”

Make time for recovery and rejuvenation.“Wherever you are, make sure you’re there.”~Dan Sullivan.When you focus on results, rather than being busy, you’re 100 percent on when you’re working and 100 percent off when you’re not. This not only allows you to be present in the moment, but it allows you the needed time to rest and recover. Your ability to work at a high level is like fitness. If you never take a break between sets, you won’t be able to build strength, stamina and endurance. However, not all “rest” produces recovery. Certain things are more soothing than others. Recovering from my work generally consists of writing in my journal, listening to music, spending time with my wife and kids, preparing and eating delicious food, or serving other people. These things rejuvenate me. They make my work possible, but also meaningful. Start before you’re ready. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”~Chinese Proverb. Most people wait. They believe they can start after they have enough time, money, connections and credentials. They wait until they feel “secure.” Not people who are unstoppable. Unstoppable people started last year. They started five years ago before they even knew what they were doing. They started before they had any money. They started before they had all the answers. They started when no one else believed in them. The only permission they needed was the voice inside them prompting them to move forward. And they moved.

If you need permission, you probably shouldn’t do it. A mentor of mine is a highly successful real estate investor. Throughout his career, he’s had hundreds of people ask him if they should “go into real-estate.” He tells every one of them the same thing: that they shouldn’t do it. In fact, he actually tries talking most of them out of it. And in most cases he succeeds. Why would he do that? “Those who are going to succeed will do so regardless of what I say,” he told me. I know so many people who chase whatever worked for other people. They never truly decide what they want to do, and end up jumping from one thing to the next—trying to strike quick gold. And repetitively, they stop digging just a few feet from the gold after resigning the spot is barren. No one will ever give you permission to live your dreams.

Don’t make exceptions. Zig Ziglar used to tell a story of traveling one day and not getting in bed until 4 a.m. An hour and a half later (5:30), his alarm went off. He said, “Every fiber of my being was telling me to stay in bed.” But he had made a commitment, so he got up anyway. Admittedly, he had a horrible day and wasn’t productive at all. Yet, he says that decision changed his life. As he explains: “Had I bowed to my human, physical, emotional and mental desire to sleep in, I would have made that exception. A week later, I might have made an exception if I only got four hours of sleep. A week later, maybe I only got seven hours of sleep. The exception so many times becomes the rule. Had I slept in, I would’ve faced that danger. Watch those exceptions!” Hence, Zig was unstoppable. “From this point, your strategy is to make everyone else get on your level, you’re not going down to theirs. You’re not competing with anyone else, ever again. They’re going to have to compete with you. From now on, the end result is all that matters.”~Tim Grover. When you’re unstoppable, you will make sure to get what you want. Everything you need to know is already within you. All you need to do is trust yourself and act.

Are you unstoppable? Try to adopt some or all of the suggestions here and see for yourself that you will soon become unstoppable. Good luck and best wishes.